Digital Commons Network^™

Enzymes Of Calendula Officinalis L. As Affected By Foliar Application Of Nano-Nitrogen And Potassium Fertilizers, Under Water Stress Conditions, Aqeel Abdulabbas Alsudani, Qais Hussain Abbas Al-Semmak

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Water stress is a major environmental factor that limits the growth and productivity of Calendula officinalis L. To alleviate its negative effects, recent approaches have increasingly focused on nano-fertilizers that enhance plant antioxidant defenses. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the effect of foliar application of nano-nitrogen (0, 2, and 4 mL L⁻¹) and nano-potassium (0, 2, and 4 g L⁻¹) fertilizers under two irrigation regimes (100% and 50% of field capacity) on the activity of key antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD). The results revealed that irrigation at 50% field capacity significantly increased CAT, …

Principles Of Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture For Building Resilient And Resource-Efficient Food Systems, Ramazan Çakmakçi, Songül Çakmakçi, Muhammet Fati̇h Çakmakçi

Turkish Journal of Biology

As the demand for greater quantities of higher-quality food grows with population expansion, climate change, urbanization, and unsustainable agricultural practices accelerate the loss of arable land, ultimately threatening agricultural sustainability. Population growth necessitates a transition to nutritious, safe, and healthy food production systems that ensure higher yields, less reduced waste, improved social outcomes, and the integration of economic, social, and environmental sustainability principles. Urgent global challenges such as resource depletion, biodiversity loss, and climate change necessitate the protection of ecosystems and the sustainable use of natural resources. Agricultural systems must enhance food production and supply productivity, strengthen system resilience, and …

Royal Jelly With Ellagic Acid Inhibits The Glycolytic Pathway And Induces Apoptosis Through Multiple Pathways In Colorectal Cancer, Tuğba Kul Köprülü

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Developing novel chemotherapeutics with high anticancer efficacy and low toxicity remains a critical challenge in oncology. Natural products have shown promise due to their multitargeted activity and favorable safety profiles. The present study investigates the combined anticancer effects of royal jelly (RJ) and ellagic acid (EA), two potent antioxidants of animal and plant origin.

Materials and methods: Royal jelly (RJ) and ellagic acid (EA) were applied to HT29 (ATCC HTB-38, Human colorectal adenocarcinoma), HCT116 (ATCC CCL-247, Human colorectal carcinoma) and BEAS-2B (ATCC CRL-3588, human bronchial epithelium) cell lines, and their antiproliferative effects were evaluated using a xCELLigence Real-Time Cell …

Microplastic Pollution In Marine Ecosystems: Sources, Impacts, Andstakeholder-Based Solutions, Seren Acarer Arat

Turkish Journal of Biology

Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles of anthropogenic origin with a size range of 1–5000 μm. Marine MP pollution is increasingly recognized as a significant global environmental challenge. MPs, which enter marine ecosystems from land- and marine-based sources, pose physical, chemical, and biological risks due to the adsorption of various pollutants and the formation of biofilm layers. MPs are found in various organisms from lower to higher trophic levels of the marine food web. The negative effects of MPs on marine organisms depend on their abundance, their characteristics, and the exposure time of organisms to MPs. MPs can adversely affect various …

Application Of Biological And Green Nanomaterials In Wastewater Treatment: Techniques For The Effective Removal Of Dyes, Heavy Metals, And Organic Pollutants, Emi̇ne Sena Kazan Kaya, Zeynep Ci̇ğeroğlu, Tansel Kemerli̇ Kalbaran, Başak Temur Ergan, Zeynep Mi̇ne Şenol, Meral Yildirim Yalçin

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Wastewater from industrial, agricultural, and residential sources poses significant environmental and public health risks due to the presence of dyes, heavy metals, and organic pollutants. Conventional treatment methods are often inadequate for the complete removal of these pollutants. Therefore, the development of sustainable, environmentally friendly, and highly efficient treatment techniques has become increasingly important. The aim of this review is to evaluate the application of biological and green nanomaterials in wastewater treatment and to compare their effectiveness against different types of pollutants (dyes, heavy metals, and organics).

Materials and methods: This review provides detailed information on the removal of …

Applications Of Transfer Learning In Sunflower Disease Detection: Advances, Challenges, And Future Directions, Yonis Gulzar

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a crop of high economic and nutritional importance that continues to suffer significant yield losses due to foliar diseases. Traditional image-based and laboratory detection techniques remain limited by subjectivity, cost, and scalability. Transfer learning (TL) has recently emerged as an effective approach to overcoming these challenges involving the reuse of pretrained deep models for plant pathology tasks. Presented here is a systematic examination of recent TL-based studies on sunflower disease classification to identify prevailing trends, research gaps, and future opportunities.

Materials and methods: A structured Scopus query was employed to retrieve peer-reviewed articles published between …

Flavonoids And Phenolic Compounds: A Promising Avenue For Neurodegenerative Disease Therapy, Tesli̇me Özge Şahi̇n, Özge Cemali̇, Merve Özdemi̇r, Şeri̇fe Ayten, Duygu Ağagündüz

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and ALS are characterized by a progressive loss of nerve cells, for which no definitive cure currently exists. These conditions share common pathological mechanisms, including chronic neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Flavonoids and other plant-derived phenolic compounds have recently attracted attention for the treatment of such conditions due to their antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties. This review explores the neuroprotective mechanisms of flavonoids and evaluates their potential for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Materials and methods: A literature search of the Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases …

Dramatic Biases In Terrestrial Nitrogen Fixation In Earth System Models Revealed By Natural Isotope Signatures, Maoyuan Fang, Shushi Peng, Philippe Ciais, Daniel S. Goll, Benjamin Z. Houlton, Ying-Ping Wang, Yilong Wang, Pan Liu, Joshua B. Fisher, Pierre Regnier

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is the primary input of new reactive nitrogen to natural terrestrial ecosystems. However, this flux is poorly constrained due to its unclear drivers and associated control mechanisms. Here, we extend the existing theory of nitrogen (N) isotope mass balance to estimate BNF rates and then use a Bayesian approach to constrain the BNF rates in natural terrestrial ecosystems by using measurements of natural N-isotope ratios (δ¹⁵N) in plants (δ_P) and soil (δ_S). Together with pairwise δ_P and δ_S measurements from 18 forest sites covering diverse climates and thousands …

Factor Structure Of Food And Physical Activity Parenting Practices Among Us Fathers By Ethnicity And Survey Language: A Cross Sectional Study, Salma M A Musaad, Louise C Mâsse, Alicia Beltran, Oriana Perez, Teresia M O'Connor

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Parenting practices contribute to children’s eating and physical activity behaviors, and thereby their risk of obesity and associated medical conditions. Fathers may engage in different parenting practices than mothers. The objective of this study was therefore to establish psychometrically sound tools in English and Spanish for measuring Physical Activity Parenting Practices (PAPP) and Food Parenting Practices (FPP) for Hispanic and non-Hispanic fathers of diverse races for use in future studies, such as evaluations of family-based obesity interventions targeted at fathers.

Methods: We conducted a preliminary assessment of the psychometric properties of a reduced version of the PAPP and FPP …

Morphological And Biochemical Characterization Of Endophytic Bacteria From Selected Medicinal Plants Found At The University Of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Ibrahim Juma

Tanzania Journal of Science

Endophytic bacteria are capable of colonising internal tissues of medicinal plants, and producing secondary metabolites (biochemical compounds) of beneficial importance like the ones produced by their host plants. Though Tanzania harbours a wide species of medicinal plants with endophytic bacteria capable of producing such important bioactive substances, research on these bacteria remains scant, which limit their biotechnological applications. This work was undertaken to isolate and document endophytic bacteria from tropical almond, local avocado, banana and blue snake weed plants found at the University of Dar es Salaam, main campus. The study characterised the isolated endophytes based on morphological descriptors and …

Crude Extracts Of Seaweeds (Ulva Lactuca And Eucheuma Spinosum) As Biostimulants For Enhancing Sweet Pepper Production, Charles Olambo Joseph, Seif Amour M

Tanzania Journal of Science

Sweet pepper is the world’s second most important vegetable after tomato, making its production vital for economic growth and supporting livelihoods. However, growing concerns about environmental protection and sustainability make the search for eco‑friendly alternatives to synthetic fertilizers inevitable. Seaweed extracts are rich in bioactive compounds that can stimulate key plant growth and defense pathways making them effective biofertilizer. A Randomized Complete Block Design was laid out to evaluate the potential of seaweed extract (U. lactuca and E. spinosum) in promoting the growth and productivity of sweet pepper(Capsicum annuum L.). Seaweed was applied in both liquid and …

Unraveling The Genetic Architecture Of Rice Yield Potential By Investigating The Impacts Of Heterosis And Inbreeding Depression, Shahwar Fatima, Muhammad Rashid, Dalal Sulaiman Alshaya, Adeel Khan, Areeqa Shamshad, Zia-Ul Qamar, Asim Abbasi, Kotb Attia, Sajid Fiaz, Qamar Uz Zaman

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Understanding the inheritance pattern, heterotic groups, and inbreeding depression is a prerequisite for hybrid rice seed production. Therefore, this study employed a full diallel mating system involving two tall varieties and three medium-statured mutants. The results revealed the significant differences in plant height, panicle length, tillers per plant, fertility percentage and grain yield. Heterosis was more pronounced for grain yield (24.2%), followed by tillers per plant (19.8%), and panicle length (19.2%). Conversely, inbreeding depression was lowest for tillers per plant (–11.5%) and grain yield (–6.8%). The additive–dominance model provided a good fit for tillers per plant and plant height, indicating …

Unraveling The Morphophysiological, Biochemical, And Yield Responses Of Maize Genotypes To Contrasting Nitrogen Conditions Using Multivariate Approaches, Muhammad Faheem Jan, Yu Lin, Waqas Liaqat, Muhammad Tanveer Altaf, Changzhuang Liu, Wang Shuai, Gönül Cömertpay, Israr Aziz, Önder Albayrak, Ming Li

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Genotypic variation plays a pivotal role in modulating the activity of nitrogen (N) assimilating enzymes, photosynthetic rate, N accumulation, plant growth, and yield. Despite this, the extent to which growth and N-assimilating enzymes exhibit differential responses across genotypes and their influence on yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) remains inadequately explored. This study aimed to elucidate genetic variations among two inbred maize lines (Huang C and 178) and their hybrid (Huang C × 178) for key morphophysiological and biochemical traits under contrasting N conditions. Multivariate statistical methods, including principal component analysis (PCA) and structural equation modeling (SEM), were used to …

Adapting Northern Herbs For Desertification Control Around Poyang Lake, China​, Haijing Xiao, Zhenwu Bian, Junyu Xu, Shimeng Li, Mengting Xiao, Min Guo, Xianglong Bu, Muhammad Rafiq, Chunsong Cheng

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Desertification poses a pressing global challenge, threatening both environmental stability and socioeconomic well-being, and it requires detailed monitoring of its dynamics and drivers to inform land restoration and sustainable development strategies. Around Poyang Lake, China’s largest freshwater lake, desertification has triggered profound ecological degradation and economic losses, intensified by human activities and climate change. This study investigates these challenges by evaluating an integrated revegetation approach that combines Beach vitex (V. rotundifolia) with nitrogen-fixing licorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.) to improve soil quality, stabilize environmental conditions, and foster sustainable land management. Field experiments examined the drought tolerance and soil enhancement capabilities of five …

Salinity Response In Tunisian Durum Wheat Genotypes: Genetic Relationships, Phenotypic Variation, And Ssr Marker-Based Computational Modelling, Rim Mzid, Rayda Ben Ayed, Imène Ayachi, Elyès Babay, İnci̇ Tolay, Lamia Hamrouni, Abdullah Eren, Mohsen Hanana

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study identifies salt-tolerant durum wheat genotypes for breeding programmes by integrating phenotypic, genotypic, and computational analyses of 27 Mediterranean varieties. Cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed two distinct genetic groups: modern genotypes (high-yielding Tunisian/Italian cultivars) and ancient genotypes (traditional Tunisian landraces). Among tested cultivars, JnehKhottifa and Grécale exhibited exceptional salinity tolerance, maintaining >80% germination at 200 mM NaCl, while Om Rabiaa and Agili showed sensitivity (<50% germination). Bayesian network modelling was used to explore the probabilistic relationships between simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers (e.g., CFD40 and GWM182, PIC = 0.561) and important traits such as root length and germination rate under stress. Genetic diversity analysis (average PIC = 0.407) highlighted the potential of SSR markers for trait-marker associations. These findings establish a valuable platform for enhancing marker-assisted selection salt- tolerant durum wheat varieties, essential for securing yields in saline-prone Mediterranean regions.

Nitrogen Management In Enhancing Raspberry (Rubus Idaeus L.) Productivity And Sustainable Development In Fruit Cultivation, Aleksandar Leposavić, Žaklina Karaklajić-Stajić, Sezai̇ Erci̇şli̇, Darko Jevremović, Ivana S. Glišić, Branko Popović, Olga Mitrović

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study investigated the effect of reduced nitrogen (N) fertilizer dosage on the vegetative and generative potential, physical and chemical characteristics, and fruit yield of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.). Two raspberry cultivars (Willamette and Meeker) were treated with low and high doses of calcium ammonium nitrate and urea over 3 consecutive years (2021–2023) in Western Serbia. Basic floricane traits and fruit quality parameters were analyzed using widely accepted methodologies. The results showed significant variations in primocane growth, floricane traits, and berry quality in response to different N fertilizer doses, whereas soluble solid content (SSC) was more stable. Lower N fertilizer …

The Impact Of Endogenous And Exogenous Fungi In Saline-Alkali Soil On The Growth And Root System Of Pine Trees, Chunfeng Shi, Zhixin Ju, Kan Gao, Wenzhong Fan, Bo Yang

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The objective is to explore planting methods that enhance the ability of black pine to cope with salt stress environments, improve its growth under such conditions, and observe its growth and physiological characteristics under various experimental conditions. For this purpose, endophytic mycorrhizal Indian pear-shaped fungus and ectomycorrhizal two-colored wax mushrooms were selected and inoculated onto potted black pine seedlings, and a control group was set up. After inoculation, the mycorrhizal infection rate, salt damage symptoms, growth rate, root parameters, and various physiological indicators under different salt stress durations were evaluated. Results showed that as the salt concentration was raised to …

Development Of Functional Cottage Cheese Enriched With Elderberry Pomace Powder: Nutritional And Antioxidant Enhancement, Roxana Nicoleta Ratu, Florina Stoica, Ioana Cristina Crivei, Ionut Dumitru Velescu, Florin Daniel Lipsa, Andreea Bianca Balint, Romina Alina Marc, Petru Marian Cârlescu, Marius Giorgi Usturoi, Emi̇ne Maci̇t

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The increasing demand for sustainable and functional foods has driven interest in utilising agro-industrial by-products, such as elderberry pomace, to enhance the nutritional and antioxidant properties of food products. This study aimed to develop a functional cottage cheese enriched with elderberry pomace powder (EPP) and evaluate its nutritional composition, antioxidant potential, sensory acceptability, and textural properties. Cottage cheese samples were formulated with EPP at concentrations of 3% and 5%, alongside a control sample devoid of EPP. The results showed that the inclusion of EPP significantly increased the levels of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and polyphenols, along with enhanced antioxidant activity, compared to …

The Influence Of Chlorophyll-A And Sea Surface Temperature On Anchovy Catch Trends (2011-2024) In Kilwa, Tanzania, Renatus Shigi, Prosper L. Mfilinge

Tanzania Journal of Science

Anchovies exhibit varying trends in catch worldwide, with some regions experiencing declines in catch due to overfishing and environmental changes, while others remain stable or experience increases. Kilwa is among the most productive small pelagic fisheries along the Tanzanian coast. This study aimed to investigate the influence of Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and Sea Surface Temperature (SST) on anchovy catch trends in Kilwa. The study further examined the relationship between catch per unit effort (CPUE) and total anchovy catch, as well as its implications for fisheries management. The study was conducted at two sites: Kilwa Kivinje and Kilwa Masoko during both the …

Comparative Analysis Of Citrate Synthase Activity In Skeletal Muscle, Liver, And Adipose Tissue In Beef Cattle, Abigail Webb

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Mitochondrial efficiency plays a central role in determining how cattle partition nutrients toward muscle growth or adipose deposition, yet little is known about tissue-specific differences in mitochondrial density among tissues or among beef cattle. This study aimed to quantify mitochondrial density in muscle, liver, and adipose tissue samples from beef cattle and evaluate its potential relationship with metabolic efficiency. Tissue samples of semitendinosus muscle (ST), liver, and subcutaneous adipose (SC) were collected, homogenized, and analyzed for citrate synthase (CS) activity using a fluorometric assay as a proxy for mitochondrial density. Preliminary analyses revealed that the semitendinosus muscle displayed the highest …

Apitherapy: Therapeutic Potential Of Bee Products In Human Health, Vezir Januzi, Albina Jaha, Hyzer Rizani, Nexhat Balaj

UBT International Conference

Apitherapy is a form of alternative medicine based on the therapeutic use of bee products, such as honey, propolis, royal jelly, pollen, beeswax, and bee venom. These substances have been used for centuries in traditional medicine for their documented antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic properties. With the development of biomedical sciences and interest in natural treatments, apitherapy is gaining increasing attention in contemporary medicine. This study aims to review the local and international scientific literature on the impact of apitherapy on human health. The analysis focuses on the findings of experimental and clinical research evaluating the preventive and therapeutic effects of …

The Impact Of Sugar And Artificial Sweeteners On Consumer Health Through Beverage Consumption, Besa Salihu, Vlora Rama Demiri

UBT International Conference

The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and artificial sweeteners is an important health issue, being linked to metabolic and other chronic diseases. This research examines the impact of these substances on consumers' health and their perceptions of the safety of these products. This study aims to assess the impact of sugar and artificial sweetener consumption on health, analyze consumers' perceptions, and examine their awareness of the effects of these substances. Quantitative methodology was used through an online questionnaire distributed on Google Forms, with a total of 57 participants. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program to identify consumption patterns and …

The Role Of The Media In Health Education And Disease Prevention, Laura Binxhija, Diana Sejdiu, Bislim Krasniqi

UBT International Conference

This study examines the role of media in health education and disease prevention through a combined approach of literature review and empirical analysis. The survey was conducted through a structured questionnaire administered to a representative sample of 160 people. The data showed that 91.7% consider media an influential factor in shaping their health behaviors, while 85% reported making significant health-related decisions—such as visiting a doctor or changing dietary habits—based on information obtained from media sources. Social media (45%) and online portals (35%) emerged as the dominant channels for accessing health information. Despite a high perceived level of trustworthiness (48.5% considered …

Effects Of Breed, Diet And Other Factors On The Quality Of Fresh Milk In Physical And Chemical Aspects Case Study Vita Dairy, Ardit Hoti

UBT International Conference

This study evaluates the effect of breed and nutritional factors on the physicochemical properties of fresh milk at the Vita dairy in Istog.Eighty milk samples were analyzed, collected from 20 farms with four cow breeds: Holstein, Simmental, Red Holstein, and Montbéliarde, during the months of May–June 2024. The samples were assessed for parameters such as: fat, protein, lactose, pH, acidity, specific gravity, dry matter, and freezing point.The results show that milk from the Holstein breed has a higher content of fat (4.02%), protein (3.30%), and lactose (4.70%) compared to Simmental. Specific gravity and dry matter were also higher in Holstein …

Technological Processing Of Wheat And Comparative Quality Analysis Of Flour Types Produced In 2024 And 2025, Nora Rrahimi, Aulona Sfishta, Resul Sahiti

UBT International Conference

Wheat (Triticum spp.) is one of the most important agricultural crops worldwide and plays a key role in feeding the population. It is a fundamental raw material for staple foods such as bread, pasta, and other dough-based products. Flour, produced through wheat processing, is classified into types based on ash content, degree of refinement, and nutritional composition. Among the most widely used are types 400, 500, and 850, each with distinct technological properties and applications in the food industry. This paper studied the technological process of wheat milling and conducted a comparative analysis of flour types 400, 500, and 850 …

International Conference On Food Science, Nutrition And Agriculture, University For Business And Technology (Ubt) In Kosovo

UBT International Conference

UBT Annual International Conference is the 14th international interdisciplinary peer reviewed conference which publishes works of the scientists as well as practitioners in the area where UBT is active in Education, Research and Development. The UBT aims to implement an integrated strategy to establish itself as an internationally competitive, research-intensive university, committed to the transfer of knowledge and the provision of a world-class education to the most talented students from all background. The main perspective of the conference is to connect the scientists and practitioners from different disciplines in the same place and make them be aware of the recent …

14th International Conference On Business, Technology And Innovation 2025, University For Business And Technology - Ubt

UBT International Conference

Welcome to IC – UBT 2025

UBT Annual International Conference is the 14th international interdisciplinary peer reviewed conference which publishes works of the scientists as well as practitioners in the area where UBT is active in Education, Research and Development. The UBT aims to implement an integrated strategy to establish itself as an internationally competitive, research-intensive university, committed to the transfer of knowledge and the provision of a world-class education to the most talented students from all background. The main perspective of the conference is to connect the scientists and practitioners from different disciplines in the same place and make …

Visible Image-Based Machine Learning For Identifying Abiotic Stress In Sugar Beet Crops, Seyed Reza Haddadi, Masoumeh Hashemi, Richard C. Peralta, Masoud Soltani

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Previous researches have proved that the synchronized use of inexpensive RGB images, image processing, and machine learning (ML) can accurately identify crop stress. Four Machine Learning Image Modules (MLIMs) were developed to enable the rapid and cost-effective identification of sugar beet stresses caused by water and/or nitrogen deficiencies. RGB images representing stressed and non-stressed crops were used in the analysis. To improve robustness, data augmentation was applied, generating six variations on each image and expanding the dataset from 150 to 900 images for training and testing. Each MLIM was trained and tested using 54 combinations derived from nine canopy and …

Relationship Between Parent Demographics And Attitudes About Their Child’S Diabetes In Nigerian Parents Who Live In The United States, Vivian Obioma Nwankwo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Relationship Between Parent Demographics and Attitudes About Their Child’s Diabetes in Nigerian Parents who Live in the United States by Vivian Obioma Eluwa Nwankwo MA, Walden University, 2018 BA, University of Nigeria, 1992 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human and Social Services Walden University August 2025

Using An Old Assay In New Ways: Differential Scanning Calorimetry Characterization, Quantification, And Interaction Analysis Of Whey Proteins, Charity Conlin Jennings

Theses and Dissertations

Whey proteins including β-Lactoglobulin, α-Lactalbumin, Immunoglobulin-G, Serum Albumin, Lactoferrin, and Lactoperoxidase each have unique biological properties spanning anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral activities as well as deliver essential nutrients to the human body. In the past decade, there has been a large focus on extracting these individual proteins for their use in foods and supplements. In order to best extract these proteins and prepare them properly in foods and supplements, an understanding of how they behave and denature in different environments is necessary. However, there is insufficient knowledge of their thermodynamic properties and potential interactions in varying conditions. Additionally, there are …